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Japan aviation news

ANA will introduce "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" livery design on DHC8-400 aircraft

All Nippon Airways is launching three DHC8-400 aircraft featuring a special livery with art and characters of the popular anime TV series "Demon Slayer." The new design will be unveiled on July 14, 2023, with a total of three aircraft entering service by the end of July on domestic routes in Japan. In addition, from July 25, 2023, specially designed stickers will be distributed...

Extension of engine MRO partnership with Japanese airline StarFlyer

StarFlyer and Lufthansa Technik recently signed a long-term exclusive contract for MRO services on the engines of the Japanese airline's Airbus A320ceo and A320neo fleets. Under the terms of the contract, Lufthansa Technik will provide StarFlyer with comprehensive technical support for CFM56-5B and  LEAP-1A powerplants even into the next decade. The MRO company is thus further expanding...

Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines partner to bring autonomous, everyday flight to Japan

Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines partners to bring Wisk all-electric air taxi services to Japan. Additionally, Wisk and JAL Engineering will work closely together to develop plans for the maintenance and operation of Wisk’s autonomous air taxis. A MOU has been signed that establishes a framework for collaboration between the two companies, as well as between the two comp...

SkyDrive received its first preorder from a private individual for SD-05 eVTOL aircraft

SkyDrive announced that the company is now accepting pre-orders for its eVTOL aircraft SD-05 for personal use. Mr. Kotaro Chiba, a licensed pilot and the first owner of a HondaJet in Japan, becomes the first private customer of SkyDrive SD-05. SkyDrive has focused on developing its business-to-business pre-order sales since it unveiled design of the SD-05 in September 2022. SkyDrive is a...

Further strengthening type’s market leadership in Japan - Mitsui Bussan Aerospace signs for six AW139

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, the authorised distributor for the Leonardo AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopter models in Japan, announced with Leonardo orders recently signed for a total of six AW139s, to meet the requirements of various upcoming opportunities in the country. These latest orders confirm the continuous success of the AW139 in Japan with nearly 70 units currently in operation. The AW139...

Skyports Drone Services wraps up successful drone delivery proof of concept in collaboration with Japan Kaga City Council

Skyports Drone Services successfully completed a drone delivery proof of concept (PoC) in partnership with Kaga City and Kanematsu Corporation. Kanematsu Corporation has partnered with Kaga City since 2021 for the promotion of regional revitalisation through the use of drones and aerial vehicles. Transporting simulated blood and other materials of up to 3kg between Kaga Medical Centre to...

Pratt & Whitney, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines announce second operational GTF MRO facility in Japan

Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network welcomed its second operational facility in Japan, and 11th worldwide, with the addition of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines Ltd., part of Japanese Aero Engine Corporation. MHIAEL, a Pratt & Whitney maintenance partner since the Wasp engine and most recently the PW4000 and V2500 engines, have inducted their first PW1100G-JM engine at their...

ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation selected to operate electric air taxi flights at Expo 2025 Osaka

ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation have been selected by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition to operate demonstration flights during the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The two companies will work together to develop plans for flight connections between the Expo venue and at least one other location in Osaka.  Companies have been working together for over a year...

Volocopter in Japan: Series E investment and regulatory pathway set

Sumitomo Corporation invested in Volocopter Series E Funding round. They will also become a key strategic partner for entry into service in the Japanese market starting in 2025. Additionally, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has accepted Volocopter’s application for concurrent type certification of the VoloCity aircraft in Japan. To celebrate these milestones, Volocopter will...

EH216 AAV completed its Japan first passenger-carrying demo flight

EHang EH216 passenger-grade AAV has completed its first passenger-carrying autonomous flight demonstration within Japan, which also marks the first passenger-carrying flight for an autonomous eVTOL aircraft in Japan. EH216 flew with two passengers and no pilot onboard for a trip along the stunningly beautiful coastline of Tanoura Beach in Oita city, under the approval of the Ministry of Land,...

REGENT secures strategic investment from Japan Airlines Innovation Fund

REGENT announced a strategic investment from Japan Airlines Innovation Fund, a strategic fund that is the venture arm of Japan Airlines (JAL), one of the world’s premier carriers. This investment in REGENT serves as a first step in the exploration of incorporating seagliders into JAL’s global network and highlights its commitment to sustainable transportation. With this investment...

Asia first eVTOL delivery slot reservation fee from Marubeni Corporation with Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace has secured a pre-delivery payment for the reservation of aircraft delivery slots from its existing customer - Marubeni Corporation. Following the joint working group partnership with Vertical, Marubeni has reserved aircraft delivery slots for 25 out of its up to 200 VX4 conditional pre-orders and becomes Vertical’s first customer in Asia to make a pre-deliv...